A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, against the ICPC, DSS, EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the case lacked merit and amounted to an abuse of court process.
The judge held that el-Rufai had already filed similar suits before the Federal Capital Territory High Court and another Federal High Court.
She said the courts could not be used to stop law enforcement agencies from carrying out their lawful duties.
Justice Abdulmalik also described the suit as speculative and lacking any reasonable cause of action.
She consequently struck out the names of the EFCC, DSS and the Attorney-General as respondents in the case.
El-Rufai had asked the court to stop the agencies from freezing his bank accounts or seizing his assets while the case was pending.
He argued that his severance benefits earned after serving as Kaduna governor from 2015 to 2023 were lawfully acquired and could not be treated as proceeds of crime.
The former governor also sought a declaration that properties bought with the money legally belonged to him.
In addition, he demanded ₦1 billion in damages for the alleged threat to his fundamental rights and ₦100 million to cover legal costs.
The suit, filed on February 24 by his lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), was ultimately dismissed by the court, ending his bid to restrain the anti-graft and security agencies from taking action against his assets.
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